PhD in Couple and Family Therapy

Program

The Drexel PhD in Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) program is a scholar/practitioner research program that prepares students for careers in couple and family therapy at an advanced level.

The program is committed to developing the next generation of family therapy researchers. Clinical research foci are Family Based Psychotherapy Process and Outcomes with couples and families, Family Systems and Health and Health Disparities working with diverse populations. Students will also decide to further their clinical training in Attachment Based Family Therapy or Emotionally Focused Family Therapy.

This advanced program trains culturally competent, self-aware couple and family therapy educators, researchers, and practitioners from a systems/relational paradigm. The program is also dedicated to increasing the number of minority scholars in the field of couple and family therapy.

Clinical training with a diverse client population affords students the opportunity to deal with a full range of individual, couple and family problems that impact underserved populations.

What you’ll learn

The PhD in Couple and Family Therapy curriculum prepares students to serve a culturally diverse society.

This program emphasizes critical thinking and mastery in:

Advance Clinical Training in ABFT and EFT;

Research and Publication;

Clinical and supervisory skill development;

Pedagogy and teaching;

Health Policy.

Graduates of this program go on to develop successful careers in academia, health care administration, research and behavioral health.

What makes the Drexel PhD in Couple and Family Therapy program unique?

Commitment to underserved populations and focus on health disparities.

Applicants are matched with CFT faculty based on research interest.

Mentored research and clinical training with experienced and internationally recognized CFT faculty.

Admission Requirements

Admissions: Fall Quarter Only

Degree:A master's or post-master's in related field from a regionally accredited institution.

StandardizedTests:
GRE required

Transcripts:

Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all the colleges/universities that you have attended. Transcripts must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the college/university seal over the flap. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.

Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If your school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.

If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency

References:Three letters of recommendation required, preferably addressing your work in human services, community, or mental health. Recommendation letters must include address, phone number, and signature of recommender. The envelope must be submitted unopened.

If a recommender prefers to submit an original, hard copy letter, please remind them that it must include an ink signature and be submitted in a sealed envelope.

Personal Statement/ Essay:

The CFT PhD program at Drexel University uses the research/practitioner model. Our primary mission is to train family therapy researchers who will be ready to serve as the next generation of research, policy and clinical leaders. In addition, we offer excellent clinical training in two empirically supported treatment models. Students are expected to reach proficiency in one of these treatments. In order to evaluate your readiness for our program, please respond to the following questions.

Research Goals. (Limit to one and a half pages)

The program is mentorship based. Students should apply with the intent of working in a research lab with a particular faculty member. Please identify the mentor with whom you would like to and what about their research interests you. We recommend that you look closely at the work of each family member before applying. Include a brief but specific description of your own related research questions and ideas, and how you think they would fit with the global research agenda of the target faculty member.

Clinical Goals. (Limit to one page per question)

All CFT PhD students will become proficient in one empirically supported treatment model: Attachment-based Family Therapy or Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. Please identify the model in which you are most interested, any experience you have using it, and how it fits into your larger career goals.

Please describe a family or couple therapy case that you treated that did not go well. After a brief presentation of the case, discuss what challenge or factors you think led to this poor outcome. Include an exploration of how your own personal and professional strengths and weakness may have contributed to the outcome of this case.

Working with Underserved Population. (Limit to one page)

The Couple and Family Therapy Department is committed to working with underserved populations with the intent of increasing our understanding of the social and systemic variables that impact health outcomes, mental health service access, and treatment delivery. Please describe how you believe your research interests will incorporate these factors and help promote social justice in the health care field.

Interview/Portfolio:Mandatory personal interview.

CV/Resume:Required

Licenses:N/A

Clinical/Work/Volunteer Experience:While specific experience not required, previous related work experience may make applicant more competitive.

International Students:

International applicants, as well as immigrants to the United States and U.S. permanent residents whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor's degree or higher in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, must show proficiency in English speaking as well as listening, writing and reading. American citizens born on U.S. military bases abroad may be waived from the TOEFL requirement after providing documentation of this status. Otherwise, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

If you take the TOEFLiBT exam, you must have:

a minimum combined score for listening, writing, and reading sections of 79 plus a speaking section score of 26 or higher.

a minimum score of 550 or higher and a Test of Spoken English score (TSE) of 55 or higher.